DPQ unofficial, rogue and pragmatical review

HBowman wrote:

I really hope the next "SD" will be useful. I mean, I do not think SIGMA user base would complain waiting one more year to give the time to SIGMA to churn out something good.

So, about the Q, what about the following ways ?

Imagine the Q do not exist yet and SIGMA is putting money in a real and functional modern software, with cropping and rotating. They hire some skilled programmers to make a very good layout, the possibility to "paint" locally (like U points") and all ... a real work on the data to decipher and interpret it the best as they can and who can exploit multi core processors and gpu ... IMAGINE that they open the code, then ppl can code useful plug-ins for skin, effects and so on ...

Imagine that they release a new DPm, The DP2Ms, a little bit bigger, faster, better battery life, new processor, better ISO like the improvements we seen in the SD15. They also putted money on AF, because it is a Cmos and 2014 technology on APS-C show that AF on sensor can work very well. AF is a real key of camera "functionality". So lets say they have worked on an AF-C mode by contrast: That would have been a real improvement.

Imagine that they modified the lens of the DP1 for better performances and able to go f22 (it is already good), that they added 2 more blades to the diaphragm of the DP3 because they care about portrait shooters and that they released a new DP, a bit bulky, the DPM-P where P stand for "portrait", with a 60mm f1.2 lens stabilized (dream on Hulyss...)...

Imagine that in the same time they announce that the next SD will be not out yet but more Q2 2015. That this SD will be very different and revolutionary in image industry.

Imagine that in secret they are working on a 19 or 24 MP foveon, 24x36, that will shine with the Art lenses, a thing that a lot of ppl around the planet already want so bad ...

So you see, my preoccupations are aimed elsewhere. In charge of development of this line I would have focussed on micro stabilisation for small lenses (a better way to gain 1 stop :D), Software and firmware (huge team), AF module on sensor, processor and noise management (allowing a very usable ISO 800 at least), weather sealing (because I do care about DP users who use it almost exclusively for landscape so outdoor), leaf shutter high performance technology allowing 1/4000 at least, a special lens aimed at professionals (60f1.2 IS) even if the price of the DP is higher, and Micro lens technology.

I would have made a bundle with all of this, the DP + the pro version of SPP for 1150 USD ( 1100 for the camera + 50 for the software, only for DP1Ms - DP2Ms and DP3Ms) and 1450 USD for the DPM-P (the very high and unique high performance model) and 2650/2950 USD for the 24x36 FF upcoming SD.

Going all the way on a new sensor tech now was not wished nor necessary. A LOAD of improvements was possible with the actual ingredients. I think there is a lot of another point to fix on the actual tech than going on a new one. At the end a lot of users would have welcome those improvements, I know it deep inside me.

SPP already works quite well with more processors (I don't know if multi-core GPU is likely to help them, considering you normally only find such cards in gaming machines. Serious pros who use Mac Pro workstations have 12 cores worth of CPU processing already. SPP maxes out all 4 virtual cores in my MacBook Air, so I would guess it will max out the 12 cores in a fast Mac Pro too.

This screen capture shows how much my processor was being used by SPP when exporting a TIFF.

As far as what would be GREAT for the next Sigma DSLR . . . a Quattro would be great. Better still would be a full-frame Quattro with twice the photo-sites of the sensor in the latest DP cameras. That would give a true 39 MP top layer, and it would perform with the exact same noise levels of the current Quattro sensor . . . but blow away all cameras with Bayer pattern CFA sensors, like the new Nikon D810 or even the Pentax 645 Z. It would probably even beat the most expensive Hasselblad. (Of course, Hasselblad would answer the challenge with a new camera that would have a 100 MP sensor.)

With dual processors a Sigma with such a full-frame Quattro sensor could perform faster than the SD1 Merrill, while providing AMAZING image quality. They would have a real winner if they add good live-view functionality too. I'd like to see an SD1 Quattro first though. That could be done pretty quickly.

I'd like to see a DP4 Quattro with a 75mm lens that has image stabilization . . . but I don't think it will happen. I don't think Sigma needs another DP model. 3 is enough to give most people what they need, and adding a bigger lens with optical image stabilization would make a DP camera just too bulky. The DP3 already pushes the "limits" of size, when it comes to camera size. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Sigma will discover that people embrace the DP Quattro series, even though they're significantly bigger than the previous models. If so, maybe they'll decide to make a slightly larger one with a longer lens (equivalent to a 135mm on full-frame . . . a very popular focal length). If they add image stabilization, it just might be a winner and sell more than any other DP Quattro camera.